The members of Al-Bayader have diverse ethnic backgrounds. They come from Denmark, Palestine, Morocco, Syria, Norway, and Sweden. The group tours Denmark and presents its message to social- and integration affairs workers, politicians, organizations, and community associations, as well as to “new Danes” and their parents. The group's most recent play My Homeland from 2003 is based on the lives of the performers. It is composed as a mosaic of daily life experiences in Denmark and in the performers' countries of origin as well as of personal stories about loss, division, and lack of acceptance. The play has been performed in, among other cities, Skive, Denmark, and Odense, Denmark, receiving great reviews. In Skive, Al-Bayader was awarded the Danish Integration Award for the play. While working as a dance group, Al-Bayader has noted that many “new Danes” – the well adjusted as well as the maladjusted – experience serious conflicts in regard to their perception of identity and nationality. For further information, please contact director Walid El-Jamal, t: +45 40 76 39 35, e: albayder@hotmail.com or
walid_eljamal@hotmail.com.

Contribution: Performs the play My Homeland, 2003, written and directed by Walid El-Jamal, on Friday, October 15, 2004, from 7 – 9 pm in Station 1: The Equestrian Hall,
Aarhus.